Major concerns

By Karl-Günther von Hase

Ambassador 1970-1977

LOOKING back on my London years I think especially of two issues overshadowing all others. First of all Britain's entry into the European Community, for which Prime Minister Edward Heath obtained an impressive 112-majority in the decisive House of Commons-vote on 28 October 1971. Afterwards at a victory celebration in Trafalgar Square -- appropriately, we thought -- and in our Embassy, we toasted the event that was so important for Europe, Great Britain and the Federal Republic. If asked at the time I would have confidently predicted that, after a suitable transition period, our host country would be among the active members supporting the further development of the Community. However, these expectations have not been wholly fulfilled. But, there can be no doubt that it was right to make Britain's adherence to the Community a main concern of German foreign policy.

A second event, then of great significance for our own Ostpolitik, was Britain's recognition of the German Democratic Republic and the accreditation of the first "DDR"-Ambassador in London. Having selected his residence also in Belgrave Square (No. 34), he came to see me at No. 22 for the customary first visit on 27 February 1974. It was not without a certain nostalgia that we had removed, a few days earlier, the traditional bronze letters "Deutsche Botschaft -- German Embassy". Now we had two Embassies for Germany in London. The British, putting it briefly as usual, distinguished between "Krauts" and "Sauerkrauts". Officially we, too, had to regard the matter as a now existent fact, although tacitly we hoped that the way to German unity would perhaps not be much longer than from No. 34 to No. 22. Further  number games were not on because there was also No. 18, the residence of the Ambassador of Austria and we had no desire to be suspected of wanting to revive the Greater German Reich around Belgrave Square.

At least one respected professional association in Britain then already shared our desire that the two Germanies should soon be one. This was the guild of toastmasters. For these impressive red-frocked figures with the stentorian voices had the greatest difficulty in getting it right when announcing the two Ambassadors with all the formalities of the correct title "Ambassador of the Federal Republic" and "Ambassador of the German Democratic Republic" respectively. This led occasionally to irritating combinations like "The Democratic Ambassador of the Federal Republic".

Enlarge image The Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt and Prime Minister Edward Heath in the doorway of 10 Downing Street, in April 1972